Nothing says comforting breakfast food like doughnuts and a cup of joe; often doughnuts are associated with western society. It is hard to say why the doughnut became so popular in the west; our glutinous appetites and capitalist views may have played a role. We may have capitalized the doughnut, but cultures the world over have deep fried pastries similar to our doughnuts: Gulab Jamun (India), Fritole (Italy), Bismark (Germany), Paczki (Poland), Awwamaat (Lebanon). It is strange how often you find culinary similarities amongst our fellow nations and even more strange in the case of doughnuts is the fact that most of these fried dough’s are spherical or circular. Some may call it a co inky dink, shared consciousness, or six degrees of separation; I would call it common sense. There is a philosopher and anthropologist by the name of Joseph Cambell who has spent his entire life studying and comparing the myths of the world, using the psyche of the individual he brings to light a unified conscious world, gaya if you will. In the interview “The Power Of The Myth” with Bill Moyers, Joseph goes into greater detail on his views and explains the significance of the circle in the cultures of the world. Check it out!
